Nicolet vs Milwaukee King: Game Recap & Players of the Game

The WIAA Playoffs are off and rolling! Level One is in the books and the field of 224 teams has been narrowed down to 112. The two teams from that group of 224 that I chose to watch live was #4 Nicolet vs #5 Milwaukee King. It was a special night as not only the playoffs were beginning, but Nicolet was looking to secure their first playoff win in school history! Check out how it played out in the Game Recap section, and don’t forget to see which dudes earned themselves a Player of the Game shoutout! There was a lot of next level talent on the field this past Friday night at Nicolet High School. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Game Recap</strong></span> This game started quick, fast, and in a hurry! On the first offensive snap of the game, Nicolet’s senior RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118463" first="Braeden" last="Ott"] </strong>took the handoff, found a lane, and was of to the races for an 80 yard TD and 7-0 lead. That was just the beginning of the Ott Show. On the team’s next possession, it didn’t take long before Ott once again found a seam, but this time he showed off more vision and elusiveness as he had to cut back across the field to avoid defenders on his way to a 48 yard score to quickly give Nicolet a 14-0 lead with 6:24 remaining in the first quarter. Milwaukee King, on the other side of the ball, was having a hard time getting anything going. Their main goal as to get QB/ATH <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="104565" first="Nate" last="White"] </strong>going on the ground, but the Nicolet front seven was too stout early on to find much for running room. The quarter ended with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118463" first="Braeden" last="Ott"]</strong> continuing his dominant performance behind the Nicolet OL. Ott picked up a 31 yard gain to put Nicolet deep in King territory as time expired. Looking back, I believe every offensive play went to Ott for Nicolet in the opening quarter. The second quarter opened with a different Ott punching it in for the 21-0 lead. ’24 QB <strong>Ben Ott</strong> kept it on the read option and <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneWI/status/1451706749115830275">scored from 3 yards out</a>. The defensive dominance continued for Nicolet in the second quarter as they quickly forced the third King punt in as many drives. King’s defense was able to get their first stop late in the second quarter. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118463" first="Braeden" last="Ott"]</strong> was able to get Nicolet into the redzone, but they were stopped inside of the King 5 on downs. Unfortunately, White and Milwaukee King couldn’t turn the slight momentum shift into anything and were forced to punt. That is where the flood gates really opened up. On Nicolet’s next play after the punt, Ott took the handoff 31 yards for his third score of the game and 28-0 lead with 2:19 remaining in the half. The Nicolet defense, led by DE [player_tooltip player_id="104377" first="Mason" last="Desrude"], was able to force another quick punt with 1:33 remaining. Nicolet took advantage of the possession as WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="31254" first="Cole" last="Trimborn"]</strong> took the jet sweep and sprinted 68 yards for the 35-0 halftime lead. The second half started off how Milwaukee King had hoped the first half would have gone. QB/ATH <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="104565" first="Nate" last="White"]</strong> started the drive by using his exceptional quick twitch athleticism and play speed to pick up 72 yards to the Nicolet 2. Two plays later, White took the snap and got into the endzone from 1 yard out to cut into the lead 35-6. Nicolet wasn’t about to let King climb back into the game, though. On their next drive, RB Ott went to work on the ground. Following a great block by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="168209" first="Max" last="Stuhlmacher"]</strong>, Ott moved the offense into King territory. WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="31254" first="Cole" last="Trimborn"] </strong>finished the drive from 31 yards out with another jet sweep sprint. This put us at 41-6 with 4:42 remaining in the third. The third quarter ended with defensive and offensive sparks for Nicolet. DE [player_tooltip player_id="104377" first="Mason" last="Desrude"] started it off with a TFL on third down to force a punt, and then when the bad snap forced the punter to scramble Desrude was right there to drag him down at the King 9. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118463" first="Braeden" last="Ott"]</strong> came in on the next play and scored the 9 yard TD to end the third quarter at Nicolet: 48 King: 6. The 4th started with Nicolet on offense after King fumbled the return following the Ott score. King’s defense held strong on the drive as they forced another turnover on downs at their own 7. The 4th quarter was a running clock, so there wasn’t a ton to report, however, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="104565" first="Nate" last="White"] </strong>was able to finish the game with several nice pickups. On their final drive, White picked up chunks of 27, 10, and 32 to get to the Nicolet 6. However, a fumble turned it over allowing Nicolet to kneel out the clock and secure their school's first playoff win in their 60+ year history! <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Players of the Game</strong></span> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118463" first="Braeden" last="Ott"], ’22 RB/LB- Nicolet</strong> <em>Stat Line: 22 Carries, 350 Yards, 4 TDs, 3 Tackles, 1 FF</em> Braeden did it all for the Nicolet offense. From the first snap of the game to the final snap it was the [player_tooltip player_id="118463" first="Braeden" last="Ott"] Show. The 6’ 175 lbs senior has an impressive play style at RB. He has the long speed, instincts, and vision to create the big plays and make defenders miss in space, but where I was most impressed was how physical he also was. He played much bigger than his 6’ 175 lbs would suggest. Over and over Ott was the one delivering the hits to LBs and DBs, and his constant leg churning allowed him to at least fall forward if not move the pile or run right through the contact. Every time he touched the ball Friday night I was expecting a highlight reel play. Check out those highlights right here! Get on this kid! <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/7059149/6174734d160081065ccd6329">Braeden vs King</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="31254" first="Cole" last="Trimborn"], ’22 WR/DB- Nicolet</strong> <em>Stat Line: 3 Carries, 127 Yards, 2 TDs, 4 Tackles</em> Cole turned minimal touches into some of the biggest moments in the game. The 6’ athlete was able to do it because of his gifted athletic profile. His 6.84 L- Drill time and 4.53 40 yard dash times were verified with his play on Friday night. While taking jet sweeps and jet sweep reverses, Cole would stick his foot in the ground when he found the seam to daylight, and just like coming out of the last turn on the L-drill, he would quickly accelerate to top speed. Once he got to that top speed he proved to be uncatchable as he pulled away from King’s defensive backs. Trimborn is the type of weapon that a defense needs to contain at the line of scrimmage because once he gets out in space it is hard to slow him down. Check out the highlights! <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11362849/6176e8c223476108f883c2e9">Cole vs King</a> <strong>Nicolet OL</strong> <em>Stat Line: 520+ Rushing Yards</em> This unit dominated on Friday night. The top two ball carriers on the team only needed 25 combined carries to find the endzone SIX TIMES because of the massive running lanes that this unit was opening up. It was awesome focusing on this group for plays at a time, and watching them work as one unit instead of five linemen. They won the battle in the trenches on the vast majority of snaps and consistently reset the line of scrimmage multiple yards downfield. The crazy part is this is a very young unit with loads of potential and development still ahead of them. The LT and two guards are the only upperclassmen. The OC, and RT are a freshmen and sophomore respectively that need to be on the radars of coaches at the next level. The player that had my attention the most was sophomore RT [player_tooltip player_id="168209" first="Max" last="Stuhlmacher"]. The big man not only has the strength to win in the trenches, but also the athleticism to be able to attack the second level and land his blocks on target or pull and land blocks out wide in the flats on OLBs or DBs. His highlights are linked below! The group is made up of: LT ’23 <strong>Logan Held</strong> (6’1" 235 lbs) <span style="font-size: 1rem;">LG ’22 </span><strong style="font-size: 1rem;">[player_tooltip player_id="118553" first="Demetrius" last="Bissen"]</strong><span style="font-size: 1rem;"> (5’11" 215 lbs)</span> OC ’25 <strong>Evan Held</strong> (6’1" 260 lbs) RG ’23 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="104487" first="Cole" last="Mendelsohn"]</strong> (6’2" 235 lbs) RT '24 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="168209" first="Max" last="Stuhlmacher"]</strong> (6’3 290 lbs) <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14328780/6175b4224797b3052c6603de">Max vs King</a> <strong>Nicolet DL</strong> This was the unit I wanted to get my eyes on the most, as a whole. I believe it is Nicolet’s deepest and most talented group on the roster. They proved why I was so hyped to see them too. All night long they controlled their man and the line of scrimmage making it very hard for the ever dangerous [player_tooltip player_id="104565" first="Nate" last="White"] to find room to run. The most impressive part was how well the DL was able to pursue after they got the penetration into the backfield. Especially DLs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="104377" first="Mason" last="Desrude"]</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="132332" first="Damarcus" last="Chappell"]</strong>. The two combined for 11 tackles and 2 TFLs while also creating a lot of havoc outside of those numbers. The unit is made up of: DE ’23 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="104377" first="Mason" last="Desrude"]</strong> (6’3" 225 lbs)- 5 Tackles, 1 TFL DT ’22 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118496" first="Josh" last="Hodges"]</strong> (6’ 240 lbs)- 2 Tackles DT ’22 <strong>Jari Rizvi</strong> (5’8" 260 lbs)- 7 Tackles DE ’24 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="132332" first="Damarcus" last="Chappell"]</strong> (6’2" 215 lbs)- 6 Tackles, 1 TFL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="104565" first="Nate" last="White"], ’23 ATH- Milwaukee King</strong> <em>Stat Line: 2/4, 13 Yards, 22 Carries, 187 Yards, 1 TD</em> Nate was the most electric athlete on the field. The 6’ 170 lbs junior has elite quickness traits. Whether looking at his acceleration, lateral agility, or start/stop ability, it is clear that they are D1 level traits. The Nicolet DL was dominant all night, as I mentioned, leaving Nate to have to create a lot of his yards by making defenders miss is very tight spaces. If not for his quick twitch athleticism the stat line wouldn’t be nearly as impressive. I expect Nate to come back next year as one of the state’s best athletes and lead Milwaukee King to another trip to the playoffs. He doesn’t have film from Friday up, but here are his regular season highlights. It’s clear to see why the Badgers have been consistently hitting him up with the graphics. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12907661/613d11cbb019460b74c630dd">Nate’s Regular Season Highlights</a> <strong>Lamar Webb, ’22 DB- Milwaukee King</strong> <em>Stat Line: N/A</em> Webb didn’t see a ton of touches on Friday night, but on defense he did catch my eye a handful of times. The 5’10" 180 lbs DB wasn’t hesitant to fly downhill to fill against the Nicolet run game. He caught my eyes with several sound, open field tackles of the dangerous Nicolet ball carriers. The no hesitation type of play style is what you want out of a safety prospect, and Lamar has that. The senior’s recruitment is still open. Check out his highlights right here! <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11400236/Lamar-Webb-Jr/highlights">Lamar’s Highlight Page</a>